Convertible vehicle body



March 9 F. A. BEST CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE BODY I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed A112. 25, 1924 ATTORNEYS March ,1927.

F. A. BEST CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE BODY Filed Aug. 25, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I!! I 4 s.............. w

A TTORNEYS Patented Mar; 1, 1927.

UYNI. S A E PATENT orr cs.

FRANK A. BEs'r, or roan, onrrnnro, CANAQA, Assrenon To smnnroan euro mnec n nr, or D T -1; CHI AN A'QQ FQBA' E Q F M CHIGA -o CONVERTIBLE vnnrcnn Bony-q Application filed August 2 5 1924. Serial No. 734,076.

This invention relates generally to convertible vehicle bodies and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and particularly" pointed out in thefappended; claims. In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 isja fragmentary side elevation of a vehicle embodying my invention;

my brackets and showing the same connected to one of the window sections and to'the,

body of the vehicle; i I V Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the Socke m b s;

Figure & is an end elevation of one of the socket members; v

Figure. 5 is an endelevation of one of the onne t ng bars; a

Figure 6 is a front elevation of one of'the c nn c in a Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7 V7 ofvFigurefi;

Figure 8 is a frontelevation of one of the 5 attaching plates. Figure 9 is, an end elevation of one of the at a ngpl I Figure 10 is a front elevation of one of the 'escutcheon plates;

F igure 11 is anendelevation of one of the escutcheon plates; Figure 12 is a vertical sectional viewt taken on the line 12 12'of Figure l; v

Figure 13 is: a. vertical sectional view s5 through a slightly modifiedform of constructioii; i i I 'F gurs ,14, is, an end elevation of there nnectingi-har used in] the, construction shown ura 1' e Figure 15 isa front elevation'of another.

modified form of construction.

Figure 1 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 16 +16of'Figure -15; v Referring nowfto the drawing in which like characters of reference designatecorrespondingparts throughout the several views,

thelnuinera'll designatesa vehicle body of the touring type having a suitable top 2,

whichis supported at its forward end on 9, the; usual windshield standards 3 projecting Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of upwardly from thebody at the forwardend thereof and is connected at its rear end to a rearwardly inclined bow thatextends upwa'rdly from the body at the rear end thereof.

For converting the touring body into a closed body I preferably provide a series'of window sections or enclosures 5 which bear against suitable abutment flanges 6projecting'downwardly from the frame 7 of the top '2 and are preferably detachably secured to the vehicle body by means of the-brackets 8. The window sections 5 may beany shape desired andmay be constructed of any suitable material. As shown, each window section 5 is substantially square in shape and is pref erably provided with a suitable wooden preferably secured tovthe inner face of the frame 9 by means of the screws 17 while the connecting bars 16- preferably extend up- \varvdly into suitable pockets-18 in the lower edge of the frame 9 and are secured to the inner face of the plates; 15" by means of the screws 19 7 i v en, th n ow sections. are o b ttach d to a t ndardhicle ody g o ng ype, h ement ng bers:.r .6 are preferably. provided at their lower endswith ofi-set portionsQO which engagesockets '21 that are preferably secured to the inner; sides of the vehicle body beneath the usual trimming rial: As hewni zF gumsfia l ofthe drawing, eaclr socket 21 is prefery p o 1. hspawd aligne op n ngs...

22; and j 23 respectively, and I adepending extension 24 having a l-opening 25. f With this on t ti n, he Scre 26- r nser ug e peni g 22 and re dr v nn he wooden ofam g27'. of heove i l ub dyf so that the heads of the screws engage the countersunk portions 29. A screw 30 also inserted into the opening in the extension in the offset portions of the bars 16. The

sockets 21 may be formed of any suitable material but are prefe ably formed from sheet metal which is stamped and bent into the shape shown in Figures 3 and 4; of the drawing.

In order that the window sections may be adjusted when the offset portions 20 of the connecting bars are in position in the sockets 21 to move the upper ends of the window sections in proper position against the abutment flanges .6 of the vehicle top, the heads 34 of the screws 19 are preferably substantially frustro-conical in shape and have rounded ends 35. As shown, the rounded ends 35 of the intermediate screws 19 preferably engage the countersunk portions 36 upon the inner face of the attaching plates 15 and form fulcrums for the connecting bars 16 while the tapered portions of the heads of the end screws 19 preferably engage the countersunk portions 38 in the outer face of the attaching plates 15 and permit the connecting bars 16 to rock on the intermediate fulcrums.

Thus with this three point connection between the bars 16 and the plates 15, the upper ends of the window sections 5 may be readily adjusted inwardly or outwardly as desired with respect to the abutment flanges 6 of the top by adjusting the end screws .19. lVhen the desired adjustment has been. made, the intermediate screws 19 may then be adjusted firmly against the plates 15 to hold the bars 16 and window sections 5 in position. Moreover this three point connection obviates rattling entirely.

If desired, the attaching plates 15 may bosecured directly to the woodwork of the frame 5 beneath the lining let, and suitable escutcheon plates 40 may be placed over the lining 14 and secured to the attaching plates 15 by means of the end. screws 15) which connect the bars use the plates 1:"). With this construction. the escntcheon plates -10 are provided with the countersunk portions 41 corresponding to the countersunk portions in the attaching plates 15.

Should it be desired to equip new vehicle bodies with the window sections 5, I preterably provide straight connecting bars 42 which preferably engage sockets 43 embedded in thewoodwork 44 of the vehicle body as shown in Figure 13 of the drawing. With this construction, the sockets 13 are similar in construction to the sockets 21 and the same adjustment of the window sections may be obtained.

Thus from the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that I have provided very simple and practical internal adjustment means for the window sections 5 which may be used with vehicle bodies of difi'erent thicknesses. Inasmuch as the connecting bars are flat, it is possible to hide the sockets which are attached to the vehicle body under the inside trimming material. Thus there are no objectionable protruding parts of any kind and the whole construction is neat and attractive in appearance. lVhen the sockets are placed in the woodwork of the vehicle body, the connecting bars and sockets are both entirely out of sight. Furthermore, the sockets are constructed in such a way that the upper ends of the window sections may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly with respect to the abutment flanges 6 of the vehicle top, while at the same time the connecting bars are prevented from working out of the sockets. IIowever the window sections may be easily and quickly removed from the vehicle body without the use of any tools by merely giving the window sections quick upward jerks to remove the retaining buttons 32 from the depressions in the sockets. then the window sections are removed, the sockets may be engaged by the supportin rods (not shown) for the usual flexible site curtains of the vehicle.

In Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings I have shown a slightly modified form of construction wherein each attaching plate is preferably provided at one end with inwardly extending car 51 to which the connecting bar is preferably pivoted at its upper end. These connecting bars 52 are preferably tapered at their lower ends as shown and are adapted to {it within correspondingly shaped sockets 53 that are secured to the vehiclebody 54. In order that the window sections 55 may be readily adjusted, I preferably provide a screw 1'36 that extends through each attaching plate 50 and threadcdly engages a lug 57 on the counccting bars This scew is preferably provided at its outer end with a handle E38 by which it may be IOlftlfill to etl'ect the desired adjustment of the window section. Thus, with this construction, the pins 59 connecting the counccting bars 52 to the cars 51. on the attaching plates 50 [(HJ}! pivots For the window sect-ion, consequently the window sections may be adjusted very quickly by merely rotatmg thesingle screw 56 extending through each attaching olate 50.

While it is elieved that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages described, and that such changes maybe resorted to when desired as fall. within thescope of whatis claimed.

that I claimas my invention is:

1. The combination with a vehicle body and a removable window section, of means I for attaching said section to said body including a socket secured to the body, a plate rigidly secured to the section, a bar slidably engaging said socket, and an adjustable con-i I18Ctl011 between the bar and plate capable of adjusting said window section relative to the vehicle body.

2. The combination with a vehicle body and a removable window section of means for attaching said section to said body including a socket secured to the body, a plate rigidly secured to the section, a bar engaging said socket, means for detachably holding said bar in engagement with said socket, and means for adjusting said window section above said body including an element extending through said plate and threadedly engaging said bar.

3. The combination with a'vehicle body and a removable window section having a rigid frame, of means for attaching said section to said body including a socket secured to the body, a plate rigidly secured to the frame of said section, a connecting member engaging the socket, and means for adjusting said section above said body including an element extending freely through said plate and threadedly engaging said connecting member.

4. The combination with a vehicle body, a removable window section, and a top for the body having an abutment flange for the window section of means for attaching the section to the body including a socket secured to the body, a plate secured to the section, a bar engaging said socket. headed elements connecting said bar to said plate and adapted to adjust the latter with respect to the bar when the said bar is in engagement with the socket for moving the window section relative to the abutment flange of the top,

5. The combination with a vehicle body, a removable window section and a top for the body having an abutment flange for the window section, of means for attaching the section to the body including a socket secured to the body, a plate secured to the section, a bar engaging said socket, and headed elements for adjusting the plate relative to the bar for moving the window section relative to the abutment flange of the to 3.

6. The combination with a vehicle body, a removable window section, and a top for the body having an abutment flange for the window section, of means for attaching said section. to said-bodymcludmg, a socketsecured to the body, a plate. secured to the section, a barengaging the-socket, a fulcrum member for theplate carried by the bar, and means connecting the plate to the bar,

saidimeans 'beingLadjustable for rocking said plate upon said fulcrum member to adjust said window section relative to the abutment flange of the top.

7. The combination with a vehicle body, a removable window section, and a top for the body having an abutment flange for the window section, of means for attaching the section to the body including a socket carried by the body, a plate carried by the section, a bar engaging the socket, a fulcrum member carried by the bar, and headed ele-' ments carried by the plate and adjustable in the bar for rocking the plate on the fulcrum member for moving the window section relative to the abutment flange of the top.

8. The combination with a vehicle body and a removable window section, of means for attaching said section to said body including a socket secured to the body, an attaching plate secured to the section, a connecting bar engaging the socket, an escutcheon plate over the attaching plate aforesaid, and means for securing the escutcheon plate to the attaching plate aforesaid and adjustably connecting the saidat-taching plate to said bar.

9. The combination with a vehicle body and a removable window section, of means for attaching said section to said body including a socket secured to the body, a plate secured to the section, a bar connected to the plate and engageable with said socket,

and means for adjusting said window sec-' tion including a. rotatable member engaging said plate and bar.

10. The combination with a vehicle body and a removable window section; of means for attaching said Section to said body including a socket secured to the body, a plate rigidly secured to the window section, a bar slidably engaging the socket, a fulcrum for the plate carried by the bar, and a connection between said plate and bar capable of rocking said plate on said fulcrum to adjust said window section relative to said vehicle body.

11. In a vehicle, the combination with the spacedbody and top thereof, of a window section between said body and top, and securing means for said window section including a socket secured to the body, an attaching plate secured to the window section. a bar engaging said socket, and means for adjusting the window section relative to said top including an element extending freely through said attaching plate and threadedly engaging said bar.

19. In a vehicle, the combination with the spaced body and topthereof, of a Window section between said body and top, and securing means for said Window section ineluding a socket secured to the body, an

alt-zu-hing plate seemed to the Window section, at bar engaging said socket, a fulcrum FRANK A. BEST. 

